AGGREGATES

Aggregates are particles of random shape. They are found in nature as sand, gravel, stones or rock that can be crushed
into particles. They may also be by products or waste material from an industrial process or mining operation.
Aggregates – generally refers to mineral which have rock as their origin, these include sand, gravel, field stone, boulders
and crushed rock.
Rock – includes any large solid mass of mineral matter which is part of the Earth’s crust.
Some other minerals used as aggregates are blast-furnace slag, boiler slug, building rubble, refuse incinerator residue, and
mine refuse. The road building industry is the greatest consumer of aggregates.

Uses of Aggregates
1. Used as bases or cushions between the soil and traffic wheels or between the soil and pavement.
2. Used in bituminous pavement and Portland cement concrete pavement.
3. Used as leveling and supporting bases between the soil and all types of structure.
4. Used as ballast, which is the base for railroads tracks.
5. Used as protective and decorative coating on roofs and floors.
6. Used to filter water, which requires holding back suspended solids while allowing water to pass through.
7. Various sizes are used for riprap to protect natural or man-made earthwork.

DEFINITION of Terms
1. Coarse aggregate = aggregate predominantly retained on the No.4 (4.76mm) sieve or that portion of an aggregate
retained on the No. 4 (4.76mm) sieve.

2. Fine aggregate = aggregate passing the 3/8 in. sieve and almost entirely passing the No. 4 sieve and
predominantly retained on the No. 200 (0.074 mm) sieve.

3. Gravel = granular material predominantly retained on the No. 4 sieve and resulting from natural degradation and
abrasion of rock or processing of weakly bound conglomerate.

4. Sand = that portion of an aggregate passing the No. 4 sieve and predominantly retained on the No.200 sieve, and
resulting from natural disintegration and abrasion of rock or processing of completely friable sandstone.

5. Bank gravel = gravel found in natural deposit, usually more or less inter-mixed with fine material, such a sand or
clay, or combination thereof.

6. Crushed gravel = the product resulting from the artificial crushing of gravel with substantially all fragments having
at least one face resulting from fracture.

7. Crushed stone = the product resulting from the artificial crushing of rocks, boulders, or large cobblestones,
substantially all faces of which have resulted from crushing operation.

8. Crushed rock = the product resulting from the artificial crushing of all rock; all faces of which have resulted from
the crushing operation or from blasting.

9. Blast-furnace slag = the non-metallic product, consisting essentially of silicates and alumino-silicates of lime and of
other bases, which is developed in a molten condition simultaneously with iron in a blast furnace.

Chapter 2 Page 1
SOURCES
The earth’s crust is solid rock called bedrock, and much of the earth’s crust is covered with soil particles originally derived
from the bedrock. This soil is classified according to size, as gravel sand, silt, and clay, with gravel being the largest and
clay the smallest. Natural aggregates include and sand, gravel or larger stones, and bedrock reduced to particle size by
manufacturing methods.
The sand and gravel occurring in nature were at one time broken from massive parent rock, transported by nature, and left
in various types of deposits called sand or gravel banks. The process that cause breaking, transporting, and depositing have
operated continuously throughout the past and continue to operate now.
Aggregates are obtained from beds of lakes and streams, but more often are obtained from deposits where there were
formerly lakes or streams. Movement in the Earth’s crust result in relocation of streams and lakes, so that some former
streams and lake beds are now on high ground with their aggregate deposit intact.

ROCK TYPES
Rock, from which most aggregate is derived, is of three types according to origin.
1. IGNEOUS rock was at one time molten and cooled to its present form.
2. SEDIMENTARY rock at one time consisted of particles deposited as sediment by water, wing, or glacier. Most were
deposited at the bottom of lakes or seas.
3. METAMORPHIC rock is either igneous or sedimentary rock that has been changed in texture, structure, and mineral
composition.

PROPERTIES
The usefulness of aggregates to the engineering and construction fields depends on a variety of properties.
Performance can be predicted from these properties, and therefore, the selection of aggregate for a particular task is based
on examination and tests.

Qualities that indicate the usefulness of aggregate particles to the construction industry are:
1. Weight
2. Strength of the particles to resist weathering, especially repetitive freezing and thawing.
3. Strength as demonstrated by the ability of the individual particles to resist being broken, crushed, or pulled apart.
4. Strength as demonstrated by the ability of the mass to transmit a compressive force.
5. Strength of the particles to resist wear by rubbing or abrasion.
6. Adhesion or the ability to stick to a cementing agent.
7. Permeability of the mass, or the ability to allow water to flow through, without the loss of strength or the
displacement of particles.
High unit weight and reasonably good resistance to weathering are all that are required of the material for the uses
described so far. Even though some substances are heavier and more weather resistant than natural stones, no other
material approaches the advantages in low cost and ready availability in nearly every possible location. The useful life of
stones I any of those structures is very long, although in some cases abrasion, breakage, or washing away of stones can be
expected to shorten life.
AGGREGATE and STRENGTH
Aggregate is obtained from the best source and brought to the construction site, but the construction takes place on
whatever soil is there. Therefore, the soil may be much weaker than available aggregate. Figure 2-2a shows a
concentrated wheel load is spread out over the soil by an aggregate base. Stress in the soil is reduced in proportion to the
square of the depth of the aggregate base since the area of the circle over which stress is spread is proportional to the
square of the depth.

Chapter 2 Page 2
Example2.1
A wheel load (force) of 3000 pounds is applied directly to a crushed rock base 8 inches deep. Compute the pressure
transmitted to the soil if the base material is of high quality, and angle θ can be considered to be 45˚.
Solution:
𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 =
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 𝜋𝑅2 = 𝜋(ℎ 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃)2
8
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 𝜋( 𝑡𝑎𝑛45°)2 = 1.4sq.ft
12

3,000 𝑙𝑏
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = = 2,100 𝑝𝑠𝑓
1.4 𝑠𝑞. 𝑓𝑡.

Figure 2-2b shows a concrete spread footing transmitting a structural column load through a crushed stone base to the
soil. The pressure from the bottom of the footing spreads in all directions as it passes through the base of the soil. It may
be assumed to spread in the shape of the footing (normally square or rectangular), becoming wider in all direction as the
depth increases.

Example 2.2
A column load (force) of 33 kips acts on a 3 feet by 3 feet spread footing. Using Fig.2-2b, calculate the pressure on the
soil if the depth of aggregate base is 8 inches, and determine what depth of base is needed to reduce the pressure on the
soil to 1.0 kips per foot. Assume angle θ is 40˚. What is the maximum pressure on the aggregates?

Solution:

𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 8 𝑖𝑛. 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 =
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎

8
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = (3 + 2 ( ) ∗ 0.839)2 = 16.9 𝑠𝑞. 𝑓𝑡.
12

33 𝑘𝑖𝑝𝑠
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = = 1.95 𝐾𝑆𝐹
16.9 𝑠𝑞. 𝑓𝑡.

𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 1 𝐾𝑆𝐹 =
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒
33
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = = 33 𝑠𝑞. 𝑓𝑡.
1
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = (𝑊 + 2ℎ(0.839))2
33 = (3 + 2ℎ ∗ 0.839)2
2.81ℎ2 + 10.07ℎ − 24 = 0

−10.07 + √10.072 − 4 ∗ 2.81(−24)

ℎ=
2 ∗ 2.81
ℎ = 1.63 𝑜𝑟, 𝑠𝑎𝑦 1𝑓𝑡 8 𝑖𝑛.
33
𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 (𝑎𝑡 𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔) = = 3.67𝐾𝑆𝐹
3𝑥3

Chapter 2 Page 3
3 VOLUMETRIC MEASUREMENTS used for Aggregates
1. Bank Measure – it is the in-site, 1 cu. yd. of materials before it is excavated and/or processed.
2. Loose Measure – it is the material carried by the hauling units.
3. Compacted Measure – it is used after compaction has been completed.

For example, 1 cu. yd. measure may equal to 1.30 cu. yd. loose and 0.80 cu. yd. compacted. These values indicate the
swell and shrinkage characteristics of the material and are determined by field tests. If the contract payment is based on the
bank measure, divide the calculated compacted yards per hour by the shrinkage factor say 0.80 to determine the bank cu.
yd.

Example:
Calculate the compact cubic meters per hour, if a compactor with a 1.27 meter drum travels at an average speed of 6.5
kph over 150mm thick fill and test strip data indicate that three passes will be required to meet specification requirement.

STABILIZING AGGREGATE
Aggregate strength can be improved by the addition of measured quantities of clay, which is a soil with very fine particles
having properties unlike any of the larger soil particles. One of these properties is cohesion of the tendency to stick
together. The clay, therefore, acts as cement paste. Other substances are also used for the same purpose, which include
salts, lime, Portland cement, and bituminous cement.
Calcium chloride and sodium chloride are the two salts mixed with aggregates to increase its strength. Coarse
aggregate, fine aggregate, and binder must all be in the proper proportion, and the salt is mixed with them in quantities of 1
to 21/2 pound per cu. yd. of surface or 2% of the weight of the aggregate. The salt forms a brine with the water and forms a
film around each particle, which increases the strength of the aggregate.
Lime is also used to stabilize aggregate base material. The lime used is a burned limestone. Hydrated lime is more
stable and therefore easier to store than quicklime, which hardens upon contact with air. Lime is mixed with aggregate in
quantities of 2 to 4% of the aggregate weight.
Portland cement or asphalt cement may be added to an aggregate base to increase its strength.

TESTS

Chapter 2 Page 4
 The behavior of aggregates in used depends on the interrelationship of
many properties. Standard tests have been devised to evaluate the
properties. Performance can be predicted from test results based on past
performances. The value of a particular property is often a matter of
Engineering judgement.

SIZE and GRADATION

Particle sizes are important for all applications. The concept of aggregate
size is difficult to express, since the particles have odd shapes that cannot be
measured easily and the shapes and sizes vary greatly in any one sample.
The important features are range of sizes, or smallest and largest particles,
and gradation, or distribution of sizes within the range covered.

A set of sieves, as show above, fitting tightly one on top of the other is used to
determine size and gradation of aggregate. A sample of the aggregate to be
analyzed is placed in the top sieve which has the largest holes. At the bottom
is a pan which collects all particles smaller than the opening of the smallest
sieve. Some standard sieve sizes commonly used for aggregates in construction and actual dimensions of the sides of the
square openings are listed in the table below.

Nominal
Sieve
Sieve
Designation
Opening

Standard Mesh inches mm Microns

25.4 mm 1 in. 1.00 25.4 25400

22.6 mm 7/8 in. 0.875 22.6 22600

19.0 mm 3/4 in. 0.750 19.0 19000

16.0 mm 5/8 in. 0.625 16.0 16000

13.5 mm 0.530 in. 0.530 13.5 13500

12.7 mm 1/2 in. 0.500 12.7 12700

11.2 mm 7/16 in. 0.438 11.2 11200

9.51 mm 3/8 in. 0.375 9.51 9510

8.00 mm 5/16 in. 0.312 8.00 8000

6.73 mm 0.265 in. 0.265 6.73 6730

6.35 mm 1/4 in. 0.250 6.35 6350

5.66 mm No.3 1/2 0.223 5.66 5660

4.76 mm No. 4 0.187 4.76 4760

4.00 mm No. 5 0.157 4.00 4000

Chapter 2 Page 5
 3.36 mm No. 6 0.132 3.36 3360

2.83 mm No. 7 0.111 2.83 2830

2.38 mm No. 8 0.0937 2.38 2380

2.00 mm No. 10 0.0787 2.00 2000

1.68 mm No. 12 0.0661 1.68 1680

1.41 mm No. 14 0.0555 1.41 1410

1.19 mm No. 16 0.0469 1.19 1190

1.00 mm No. 18 0.0394 1.00 1000

0.841 mm No. 20 0.0331 0.841 841

0.707 mm No. 25 0.0278 0.707 707

0.595 mm No. 30 0.0234 0.595 595

0.500 mm No. 35 0.0197 0.500 500

0.420 mm No. 40 0.0165 0.420 420

0.354 mm No. 45 0.0139 0.354 354

0.297 mm No. 50 0.0117 0.297 297

0.250 mm No. 60 0.0098 0.250 250

0.210 mm No. 70 0.0083 0.210 210

0.177 mm No. 80 0.0070 0.177 177

0.149 mm No. 100 0.0059 0.149 149

0.125 mm No. 120 0.0049 0.125 125

0.105 mm No. 140 0.0041 0.105 105

0.088 mm No. 170 0.0035 0.088 88

0.074 mm No. 200 0.0029 0.074 74

0.063 mm No. 230 0.0025 0.063 63

0.053 mm No. 270 0.0021 0.053 53

0.044 mm No. 325 0.0017 0.044 44

0.037 mm No. 400 0.0015 0.037 37

The results of a sieve analysis are plotted on a grain size distribution curve with sieve size on the horizontal axis as
the abscissa and the percent finer on the vertical axis as the ordinates. The graph is called a gradation chart.

Example Problem:

Chapter 2 Page 6
 An air-dry sample of fine aggregates is brought to the soil laboratory for mechanical grain size analysis. The laboratory
data are as follows:

Opening
Specification
Sieve Size Diameter, D Weight Retained Weight Passing % Finer
% Finer
(mm)

3/8” 9.52 0 1741.70 100 100

No. 4 4.76 78.50 1663.2 95.49 95 to 100

No. 8 2.38 220.10 1443.10 82.86 80 to 100

No. 16 1.19 285.6 1157.50 66.46 50 to 85

No. 30 0.59 294.8 862.70 49.53 25 to 60

No. 50 0.297 477.4 385.30 22.12 10 to 30

No. 100 0.149 246.9 138.40 7.95 2 to 10

No. 200 0.074 130.3 8.10 0.46 -

Pan 8.10

TOTAL 1741.70

Result: PASSED
𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑃𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔
% 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟 = ∗ 100
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒
Effective Size – used to designate size of aggregates to be used as a filler for sewage or drinking water, is that diameter or
size on the graph which has 10% of the total finer than its size, designated as D10.
Maximum Size of aggregate – when used in the design of Portland cement concrete mixes, is taken for that purpose to be
the size of the sieve next above the largest sieve that has 15% of the total sample coarser than it. (cumulative percentage
retained).
Fineness Modulus- is a value used in the design of Portland cement concrete mixes to indicate the average size of fine
aggregate. It may also be used to indicate the average size of coarse aggregate. It is determined by adding the cumulative
percentages retained on specified sieves and dividing by 100. The fineness modulus should be determined to two decimal
places.
Gradation, meaning the distribution of particle sizes within the total range of sizes, can be identified on the graph as:
1. Well graded – means sizes within the entire range are in approximately equal amount, although there will be very
small amounts of the largest and smallest particles.
2. Uniformly graded - means that a large percentage of the particles are of approximately the same size.
3. Gap graded or Skip graded – means that most particles are of a large size or a small size with a very few particles
of an intermediate size.

Chapter 2 Page 7